There are days I am not sure why I stay, to be honest. But that is part of any job. Overall, I absolutely love it - it is part of who I am and what I do.

However, there are those that love it just as much but they leave. I am not talking about the Teach For America crowd that comes in to save the world and realize it's a hell of a lot harder than they anticipated or were prepared for.

I am talking about the teachers that have poured their blood into it yet choose to walk away.

Why do they do that and what could make them stay?

A really interesting video came my way over the weekend. After watching it a few times, it hit me that this video, made for business, was hitting the heart of why some teachers leave.

It also made me get why many would stay if they had three things backed up by science: autonomy, mastery and purpose.

And let me say that merit pay will not attract or retain any teacher. Read the post and watch the video - you'll see why.

What makes teachers stay in teaching? If merit pay isn't the answer to retaining great teachers, what is it? It has to do with the psychology of human beings and basic needs we all have. Test scores will not retain great teachers.

During the last ice age, two infants in what is now Alaska were laid to rest, precious hunting tools at their sides. Now, more than 11,000 years later, scientists announce the discovery of the tiny skeletons and their extraordinary burial spot—underneath the fire pit of an ancient house.﻿

I'm seeing a lot of posts around the web from parents who are really (and justifiably) upset about #commoncorestandards in math, particularly the doubles + one strategy. The thing is, it was around before Common Core and it is a really great mental #math strategy. What do you think? Do you use it in your classroom? #teachers ﻿

What do you think about Common Core? My views are still evolving, but I definitely know that the way Common Core Math is being implemented in many districts is much worse than not getting a rose on The Bachelor!#commoncore#commoncoremath﻿

It was not till High School that I was invited to a test class called critical thinking. That opened a world to me.

In nursing school, at the finals, putting it to work improved my grade. Not studying for the answers, rather for what the instructors were looking for. Went from B+ to A. Ironical, got only 1 wrong on the test.

Perhaps an opposite extreme, the challenge is guiding young people through the process of learning how to think, reason, and apply knowledge in a beneficial way.

It was not till I was 27 that I learned how to read and remember. Now I teach reading comprehension. My oldest student 67, can pick up a magazine and tell you what it says cover to cover.﻿

Give each team (could be one person or groups) a baggie with a calendar and a set of problems that have been copied on to colored paper. When you say, "Go!" each team takes all the problems from the baggie.

As the students solve the problems, they place the individual colored squares on the matching numbered calendar square. When the entire calendar is covered, the team yells, "Done!"

Clear the calendars, mix up the problems and play again. This is an excellent game for practicing problem solving strategies.

This is a quick screencast (silent) of a terrific site called graphite.org. You can sort through the Common Core standards to find teacher evaluated apps and sites that match the standards K-12. #technologyintheclassroom. #ipads﻿

This is the official page of Primary Education Oasis. Primary Education Oasis is about using best teaching practices in the classroom, knowing how to use intervention and differentiation, and great strategies to help all students achieve.

This site has been online since 2009 and is run by me, Shannon Dipple, a teacher with 20+ years experience both overseas and in the States.

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